Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (right) helps an Afghan migrant as he arrives with other refugees and migrants on a raft on the Greek island of Lesbos, in this Jan. 25, 2016 file photo. Ai Weiwei is withdrawing an exhibition from Denmark after parliament passed controversial refugee laws on Jan. 26, 2016. | REUTERS

Ai Weiwei withdraws works from Danish museums in protest of new policy

ATHENS – Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei is withdrawing his works from two museums in Denmark to protest a new law that allows Danish authorities to seize valuables from migrants.

Ai announced on social media Wednesday that he no longer wanted to have his works on display at the Aros museum in Aarhus and the Faurschou Foundation in Copenhagen.

Curator Jennie Haagemann said that Ai called the owner of the Faurschou Foundation to inform him of his decision.

Aros museum officials said they didn’t know anything beyond what Ai had posted on Twitter and Instagram.

Museum director Erlend Hoeyersten said he has “great respect” for Ai’s criticism of Danish immigration policies, “but I also find it unreasonable that an entire people is punished for the government’s policies.”